Reaction as A134 Sicklesmere Road, Bury St Edmunds, roundabout project reaches halfway mark
Frustrated residents have breathed a sigh of relief after ‘key tasks’ have been completed for a controversial roundabout project, which has led to ‘horrendous’ traffic problems.
This week, Hopkins Homes announced traffic lights on A134 Sicklesmere Road, in Bury St Edmunds, which have been in place since the work began on March 7, would be temporarily removed.
The traffic lights have now been repositioned, over a shorter distance, north of the new roundabout project, which the developer hopes will ease traffic flow, during the week.
Sicklesmere Road will still be closed to traffic for the next three weekends, however, with the work due to end on May 5.
At the same time, Low Green, which had been closed, along with Rushbrooke Lane, to prevent rat running, has been reopened during the week, following concerns from businesses over lost trade.
Hopkins Homes say the changes have been made due to ‘key tasks’ being made ‘ahead of schedule’.
Henry Hopking, chairman of Nowton Parish Council, said: “There is a sense of relief that the end is in sight and that the developer has adapted and made changes at this stage, after listening to concerns.
“I am not convinced that moving the traffic lights will have much bearing, because no matter where you put them, it’s going to impede flow.
“But the closure of Low Green was having an big impact on trade for business, so we are pleased that at the this stage the developer has been prepared to reopen it.”
Hopkins Homes is installing a roundabout on the A134, along with an accompanying relief road towards the A14, as part of work on its 363-home Abbots Vale estate.
Concerns were also raised after the developer sought to increase the number homes to be occupied, from 200 to 375, before the relief road is complete.
The plan, in a joint application with Denbury Homes, which is due to carry out upgrades at Southgate Green roundabout as part of neighbouring St Edmunds Gate development of 900 homes, has since been withdrawn.
A Hopkins Homes spokesperson said: "We have made every effort to minimise disruption caused by the Sicklesmere Road works.
“Through regular review meetings with Suffolk Highways and our partners, we have been able to closely monitor progress.
“Following our most recent review with Suffolk Highways, Low Green has been reopened for weekdays only.
“Access-only arrangements will continue during weekend road closures to ensure a clear route for emergency vehicles, following positive feedback from the blue light services.
“We thank local residents and road users for their continued patience as we progress with these essential works.”
Suffolk county and West Suffolk district councillor, Richard Rout, who campaigned from the outset for Rushbrooke Lane to be closed, due to fears of rat running, said: “Whilst there are still understandable frustrations in the community there is a sense of relief that progress is being made and we are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
“The reopening of Low Green during the week is helpful to businesses in the area which have been really struggling.
“There is a question however whether Hopkins Homes should be doing more to support those businesses and making some sort of goodwill payment towards those adversely affected.
“We must learn from this project, as to when, in future, councils consent to big housing developments, with conditions that require road closures, more consideration is given to the very real impact those closures will have on the community.”
Hawstead parish councillor, Henry Brewis, said: “I hope that the whole thing will be over quicker than they said.
“I don't quite see why they need to close the road for another three weekends. I find it frustrating. They're closing the road, and they're not doing a great deal.
“Low Green reopening during the week is very good. I don't know why they didn't do it sooner. I don't know why they did it in the first place.
“In an ideal world, it would be good to see the relief road completed sooner rather than later, but I am a realist, and presume it is down to cost, and they need to sell houses first.”
Peter Royce, chairman of Great and Little Whelnetham Parish Council, said: “It’s been horrendous.
“But at least things are moving in the right direction.
“It's just a pity that they can't open Sicklesmere Road at the weekends and do this work overnight.
“I think everybody would like to see the relief road built now. And I'm a little bit hesitant about what's happening with Southgate Green roundabout because if those works are going to take place and the relief road hasn't been finished, you can imagine the congestion that's going to happen.
“At least by having the relief road in place would alleviate a lot of the hassle for people getting from the south to the north of Bury.
“I would like to know why it wasn’t stipulated the relief road to be complete before the houses are occupied.”
With regard to the joint application by Hopkins Homes and Denbury Homes for the number homes to be increased before the A14 relief road and roundabout upgrades at Southgate Green, are completed, Robert Eburne, planning manager at Denbury, said: “The withdrawal of the application to vary the trigger points reflects the good progress being made on the construction of the relief road.
“We will continue to work closely with Suffolk County Council and Highways to minimise disruption as the development progresses.”
Suffolk county councillor, Karen Soons, said: “I am cautiously pleased that the work is ahead of schedule.
“The disruption however has been immense for local residents in Hawstead, Sicklesmere, Rushbrooke, Rougham, Little and Great Whelnetham, Nowton, Bradfield Combust with Stanningfield and the wider community travelling through.
“This could have all been avoided by earlier travel plans in place during the granting of planning permission conditions and the developer working with local parishes and Suffolk Highways in a more joined up way.
“Parishes feel their concerns have been ignored and they have had to bear the brunt of massive grid lock through narrow rural lanes that have caused untold damage to the countryside and huge cost to the local economy.
“I hope Hopkins Homes keeps their promise of restoring the damaged roads, verges and the surrounding area. Only time will tell.”
Please support local journalism. For a £30 off our annual subscription price, use ChrisMorris (no space) as the offer code - giving you access to our ad-lite SuffolkNews website and digital editions of all our papers, for just £24.89 a year.
